Good Gun Deals This Week

[rookhawk]

With thanks again to @rookhawk and @Red Leg , for their invaluable advice, here a little teaser for the first success of this thread:

View attachment 442910

That safety shroud would cost more to have made today than I paid for my first two cars combined. Can’t wait to see the whole gun. I think we may have erred conservatively on how good the gun was. Soft focus, low res pics looked like a high grade gun. It may prove to be a best gun 4x the assumed quality if the rest of the gun matches the safety. Well done, @VertigoBE

 

[Red Leg]

That safety shroud would cost more to have made today than I paid for my first two cars combined. Can’t wait to see the whole gun. I think we may have erred conservatively on how good the gun was. Soft focus, low res pics looked like a high grade gun. It may prove to be a best gun 4x the assumed quality if the rest of the gun matches the safety. Well done, @VertigoBE

I am now almost absolutely certain it is a bespoke Centurion. Like all guns, it is "worth" whatever someone is willing to pay. Assuming the remainder of the rifle is commensurate, in the right auction, it would make $10-15K, perhaps somewhat more, depending who wanted it and how badly.

I am bitterly envious.

 

[Cam Moon]

It was really something to live vicariously through this thread throughout @VertigoBE 's search, find, education, and purchase! You guys have an absolute wealth of information!

 

[BigFan375]

I've looked at H&H and some of the other makers of fine firearms, and almost all are in the 6 figures for a starting LH 98 pattern rifle. But, your point is well taken and I certainly agree, quality does trump quantify for sure. I will search for the rifle you mention and see if it is still available.

You posted a picture above and I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Lovely engraving, but not able to recognize the weapon. Can you enlighten me please?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I've looked at H&H and some of the other makers of fine firearms, and almost all are in the 6 figures for a starting LH 98 pattern rifle. But, your point is well taken and I certainly agree, quality does trump quantify for sure. I will search for the rifle you mention and see if it is still available.

You posted a picture above and I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Lovely engraving, but not able to recognize the weapon. Can you enlighten me please?

Sure thing, @BigFan375 . We need to get down to definitions though.

There are right handed guns that are stocked left-handed. These are the true social pariahs. You can get amazing deals on these guns as they are lefty, thus 1/10th of shooters might be lefty, yet they are mechanically righty so the interest level is probably <1% of the potential market. As such, they languish for peanuts and if you grew up operating a righty bolt but you want a proper lefty stock fit, boy are you in for a deal. You can shoot best quality guns for Ford Festiva prices.

Then there are true lefty guns. Lefty actions. Triggers are bent slightly for left hand operation. Bolt shroud safety levers operate from right to left. These are rare as hen's teeth in "Best quality" guns. Prechtl and Reimer Johannsen made actions in true-lefty reverse blueprints of right handed 98 mausers, magnum mausers, kurz mausers, and single/double square bridge configurations. They cost a friggin' fortune but you can find deals on them because there are just fewer possible customers and they are not likely to be an inheritable item. (what will your righty heirs do with this goofy thing?). You won't get the deal you get in the righty/lefty hodgpodge guns from the paragraph above, but the deals are still out there. They can sit on the market for years and years.

There was a very nice London magnum mauser that was a true lefty on the classifieds for a very long time. Watson brothers? William Powell? Whatever it was, it was a very nice true lefty magnum. I would search that up and jump on it.

Thanks for the quick reply. No leftie stocked righty. Too hard to operate the bolt. Doubles are truly dream "lotto" guns and are usually out of my price range. Back in the day, CZ Charles Daly maybe? were available in 98 pattern Mauser. I have one I turned into a 404 Jeffery for my buffalo hunt in 2016. And currently, you can at least order a CZ in mirror image 98, but the getting it might be difficult. P.O. Ackley made some back in the 60's I believe. Have a receiver body, but no bolt for the full action. Tried to get a bolt built by David Gentry, but he gave up and sent the whole thing back to me. And he has since passed away so there is no chance of a second try.

The English, German and other foreign makes are usually out of my price range as well. I covet all of them, but can only afford to look for the most part. Never know, I want to see all of them just to see what's out there.

Good news, I have a left handed granddaughter...yeehaa. She is going to have quit the collection when I pass...lol

Anyway, it is obvious you are so far ahead of me in gun knowledge that I hope I did not make a fool of myself with any of my comments above. Not currently in front of my safe to verify brands.

As to the London magnum Mauser, was that on africahunting classifieds?

Again, thanks for the work you put in on our behalf! I'm looking forward to whatever you can come up with for lefties...Merry Christmas and all the best going through the new year.

For Sale Frederick Beesley Left-hand 416 Rigby With Scope

FREDERICK BEESLEY LEFT-HAND BOLT ACTION RIFLE . 416 Rigby caliber 23 1/2" barrel weight 13 lbs with scope & sling 44 3/4" overall LOP 14" over 7/8" leather covered recoil pad raised blade front sight & quarter rib 50 yard rear 'V' sight trigger currently set at a 3 lb 8 oz pull. EAW quick...

www.africahunting.com

This one I believe

 

[rookhawk]

I think if we’re going to talk about good gun deals, we should probably pay homage to bad deals too.

You know, things that do not make sense. For example, to understand irrelevant things that do not make sense, refer to the chewbacca defense:

Now that you’re very confused and nothing makes sense, Let me tell you about a gun that does not make financial sense, yet I love them.

The Gewehr 88 (commonly called the Model 1888 commission rifle) was sort of a precursor to the design of the 98 Mauser design. They are weird, they have stocks that are bolstered (aka have shoulders), they have a weird escutcheon that holds the stocks to the action, they have a strange magazine, and they are generally worth very, very little money.

It gets worse. They do not make sense. When sold, the seller always thinks they have something about as precious as the Carcano used at the Dallas Book Depository even though they are not easily salable for $500. They all languish on the Internet for months or years because again, nothing makes sense. The require use of clips to operate, another feature that does not make sense.

What I love about them in spite of their strange designs, overpriced nature, and generally predictable 8x57J caliber, is they are all embellished.

You’ll see them with filed full length ribs, octagon custom barrels, pop up night sights, gilding, deep relief engraving, claw mounts, platinum lined sights, teutonic carvings in the stocks, and a host of other embellishments that would costs many thousands to replicate today…but again, no one would because nothing about them makes sense.

So here are some examples of a gun that doesn’t make sense and is definitely one that is often in the “bad deal” camp, yet they are weird enough to provide entertainment as you spend too much money on a substandard gun design compared to a 98 Mauser.

Some examples that have come and gone and just like the Chewbacca defense, they don’t make sense.

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/13193310

1888 Sporter | DORLEAC & DORLEAC

www.dorleac-dorleac.com

C.G. Haenel GEW-88 - 8x57JR Pre-War Sporter

C.G. Haenel GEW-88 - 8x57JR Pre-War Sporter for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[VertigoBE]

I am now almost absolutely certain it is a bespoke Centurion. Like all guns, it is "worth" whatever someone is willing to pay. Assuming the remainder of the rifle is commensurate, in the right auction, it would make $10-15K, perhaps somewhat more, depending who wanted it and how badly.

I am bitterly envious.

Thank you @Red Leg, the gunstore guy told me the following: it belonged to a now 92 year old lawyer, who bought it about 30 years ago, upon his retirement. As the gun store owner said about the lawyer, ”il s’est fait plaisir” / “he spoiled himself a bit”. It had been sitting in the gun rack for over 4 months now. A few offers had been made, but the owner wanted a certain minimum price for it. That’s where I picked it up.

Despite its substantial weight, the rifle feels very svelte and lively in my hands. Bringing it to my shoulder, is a direct alignment of my right eye. Some more pictures:

 

[VertigoBE]

 

[mark-hunter]

This is just beautiful! Congrats!

 

[VertigoBE]

VERY NICE! Please tell me the owner took that photo.

The new owner, yours truly, did indeed thank you for your analysis that moved me to go get it!

 

[noyb72]

There must be a month's worth of engraving labor in the floor metal alone. Humanity is better off for that work of art existing. Thank you for sharing.

 

[rookhawk]

There must be a month's worth of engraving labor in the floor metal alone. Humanity is better off for that work of art existing. Thank you for sharing.

And he paid the same price as a new CZ with optic and scope mounts. Which one gets sold by heirs for $200 versus which one gets fought over in the reading of the will?

 

[Red Leg]

I hope everyone realizes what full coverage small acanthus/ scroll alone would cost. What an elegant magnificent thing. I can't wait to see it propped against a Roe, Red Stag, or Kudu.

I suspect the quality of that dense English walnut (probably the mountains of Turkey) gives the rifle a bit of heft most would not expect in a rifle of that caliber.

 

[VertigoBE]

I hope everyone realizes what full coverage small acanthus/ scroll alone would cost. What an elegant magnificent thing. I can't wait to see it propped against a Roe, Red Stag, or Kudu.

I suspect the quality of that dense English walnut (probably the mountains of Turkey) gives the rifle a bit of heft most would not expect in a rifle of that caliber.

I sure hope to be able to take it on a hunt soon. For roe/stag it is getting a bit late now, but wild boar remains a possibility.

Indeed, although it feels very slim, very svelte, it is one heavy rifle. Not only the stock I think, but the barrel too is quite thick. I’ll have it weighted once I find where my luggage scale is at.

 

[CJW]

View attachment 442971

VERY handsome rifle. Congrats.

 

[CJW]

I think if we’re going to talk about good gun deals, we should probably pay homage to bad deals too.

You know, things that do not make sense. For example, to understand irrelevant things that do not make sense, refer to the chewbacca defense:

Now that you’re very confused and nothing makes sense, Let me tell you about a gun that does not make financial sense, yet I love them.

The Gewehr 88 (commonly called the Model 1888 commission rifle) was sort of a precursor to the design of the 98 Mauser design. They are weird, they have stocks that are bolstered (aka have shoulders), they have a weird escutcheon that holds the stocks to the action, they have a strange magazine, and they are generally worth very, very little money.

It gets worse. They do not make sense. When sold, the seller always thinks they have something about as precious as the Carcano used at the Dallas Book Depository even though they are not easily salable for $500. They all languish on the Internet for months or years because again, nothing makes sense. The require use of clips to operate, another feature that does not make sense.

What I love about them in spite of their strange designs, overpriced nature, and generally predictable 8x57J caliber, is they are all embellished.

You’ll see them with filed full length ribs, octagon custom barrels, pop up night sights, gilding, deep relief engraving, claw mounts, platinum lined sights, teutonic carvings in the stocks, and a host of other embellishments that would costs many thousands to replicate today…but again, no one would because nothing about them makes sense.

So here are some examples of a gun that doesn’t make sense and is definitely one that is often in the “bad deal” camp, yet they are weird enough to provide entertainment as you spend too much money on a substandard gun design compared to a 98 Mauser.

Some examples that have come and gone and just like the Chewbacca defense, they don’t make sense.

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/13193310

1888 Sporter | DORLEAC & DORLEAC

www.dorleac-dorleac.com

C.G. Haenel GEW-88 - 8x57JR Pre-War Sporter

C.G. Haenel GEW-88 - 8x57JR Pre-War Sporter for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

I love the 88's. Done up properly they look like the ultimate type b Mauser.

The few custom 71's out there are very neat rifles as well but probably make even less sense as I've read that they were often done in random calibers so that the person commissioning the rifle had something different than anyone else.

 

[ducmarc]

I've turned down several leftys to the point I should teach myself to shoot both .there was a custom left hand went by I think from griffin and howe for a famous gun writer that was left hand.cant remember who it was .Jeff cooper I think but don't quote me very reasonable.

 

[ducmarc]

Naturally I can't find it but there's a po ackerly 300 win mag left hand for 1700 on guns international

 

[ducmarc]

1800$

 

[ducmarc]

I was close it was a gift to col.Charles Askins left hand 721 G-H in 8mm rem.mag. for 4k and it's been there awhile